Watch How Locals Calmly Rescued A Stray Tiger That Entered This Sundarbans Village

By Hanna Paul 25 June 2025

On the morning of 14 June 2025, a fisherman in the Sundarbans spotted a tiger along a river channel during low tide. He followed its pugmarks — only to realise the tiger had entered his village. Image credits: artpictures.club Representational image

[{"selector":"#anim-11baccb2-a86e-4c77-8e60-0e496037d780","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cbdcb88a-a141-4aeb-a40f-1455760ab567","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -93.20747%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The sighting took place in Deulbari, one of the most remote villages in the Sundarbans, where people and tigers often share the same landscape. Image credits: The Statesman Representational image

He didn’t panic. Instead, like most villagers now know to do, he informed the forest office and the local ‘Bagh Bondhus’ — trained community volunteers who work with officials to monitor tiger movement and keep people safe. Image credits: ghumindiaghum.com Representational image Image credits: Wildlife Trust of India Representational Image

[{"selector":"#anim-bd838912-255c-470f-b5d5-9dac1bd2d20d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34ac7b17-401b-45b0-a3cb-0fb3df8a34ad","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -96.9184%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Forest officials launched foot and boat patrols while villagers kept a watch from a safe distance. Soon, the tiger’s presence near homes was confirmed. Image credits: travelsetu.com Representational image

[{"selector":"#anim-b2d0afe8-b19f-4dde-8c8d-ea1375b0a32c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d87bc903-72ae-4ccf-b4c4-b7f1cce1f2ff","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] After hours of careful searching, the tiger was found hiding in a patch of bushland. The area was cordoned off to keep both the animal and villagers safe. Image credits: exploreworldwonders.blogspot.com Representational image

Guiding the tiger back to the forest wasn’t an option — it was too risky for everyone involved. Instead, officials used a trap cage to capture the animal without harm. Image credits: royalsunderbantourism.com Representational image

The tiger was released deep inside the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve, far from any village. It walked back into the forest safe, alive, and free — just like the people who watched it go. Image credits: West Bengal Forest Department

Not long ago, a tiger straying into a village might have ended with fear, chaos, or even tragedy. This time, it ended with calm, care, and a safe release. That shift didn’t happen overnight. Image credits: sunderbans-national-park.com Representational image

[{"selector":"#anim-8ced4adb-a54b-46cc-a375-bfbd009f3194","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d373944-4312-4232-b312-fbe72bbd0900","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -100.0462%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Since 2019, the Wildlife Trust of India and local ‘Bagh Bondhus’ have quietly built something powerful — Primary Response Teams (PRT) made up of everyday people ready to help in moments like this. Image credits: taabutour.com Representational image

[{"selector":"#anim-9782a546-ea48-4459-b9c3-ebdb87e6058e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0.00268668685120943%, 25%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Together, they have stood by forest officials in 29 tiger incidents — and over 40 other wildlife emergencies. Not as heroes, but as neighbours who’ve learned to live with the wild, not against it. Image courtesy : edgeofwild.com Representational Image